Biography of Thomas Adams, American Inventor

History of Thomas Adams, American Inventor Thomas Adams (May 4, 1818â€February 7, 1905) was an American creator. In 1871, he protected a machine that could mass produce biting gum from chicle. Adams later worked with agent William Wrigley, Jr. to set up the American Chicle Company, which experienced extraordinary accomplishment in the biting gum industry. Quick Facts: Thomas Adams Known For: Adams was an American creator who established the biting gum industry.Born: May 4, 1818 in New York CityDied: February 7, 1905 in New York City Early Life Thomas Adams was conceived on May 4, 1818, in New York City. There is minimal recorded data about his initial life; be that as it may, it is realized that he fiddled with different exchanges including glassmaking-before in the long run turning into a picture taker. Examinations With Chicle During the 1850s, Adams was living in New York and filling in as a secretary for Antonio de Santa Anna. The Mexican general was in a state of banishment, living with Adams in his Staten Island home. Adams saw that Santa Anna got a kick out of the chance to bite the gum of the Manilkara tree, which was known as chicle. Such characteristic items had been utilized as biting gum for a huge number of years by gatherings, for example, the antiquated Egyptians, Greeks, and Aztecs. In North America, biting gum had for quite some time been utilized by Native Americans, from whom British pilgrims in the long run received the training. Afterward, representative and creator John B. Curtis turned into the primary individual to sell gum financially. His gum was produced using improved paraffin wax. It was Santa Anna who proposed that the fruitless yet innovative picture taker Adams try different things with chicle from Mexico. Santa Clause Anna felt that chicle could be utilized to make a manufactured elastic tire. Santa Clause Anna had companions in Mexico who might have the option to gracefully the item economically to Adams. Prior to making biting gum, Thomas Adams originally attempted to transform chicle into manufactured elastic items. At that point, regular elastic was costly; an engineered option would have been amazingly valuable to numerous producers and would have ensured its innovator incredible riches. Adams endeavored to make toys, covers, downpour boots, and bike wears out of the chicle from Mexican sapodilla trees, yet every analysis fizzled. Adams got crippled by his inability to utilize chicle as an elastic substitute. He believed he had squandered about a years worth of work. At some point, Adams saw a young lady purchasing White Mountain paraffin wax biting gum for a penny at the corner drugstore. He reviewed that chicle was utilized as biting gum in Mexico and figured this would be an approach to utilize his excess chicle. As per a 1944 discourse given by Adams grandson Horatio at a feast for the American Chicle Company, Adams proposed to set up a trial bunch, which the drug specialist at the drugstore consented to test. Adams got back home from the gathering and told his child Thomas Jr. about his thought. His child, energized by the recommendation, proposed that the two assembling a few boxes of chicle biting gum and give the item a name and a mark. Thomas Jr. was a sales rep (he sold fitting supplies and some of the time went as far west as the Mississippi River), and he offered to take the biting gum on his next outing to check whether he could sell it. Biting Gum In 1869, Adams was roused to transform his excess stock into biting gum by adding enhancing to the chicle. Not long after, he opened the universes first biting gum processing plant. In February 1871, Adams New York Gum went marked down in sedate stores for a penny a piece. The gumballs came in coverings of various hues in a case with an image of New Yorks City Hall on the spread. The endeavor was such a triumph, that Adams was headed to plan a machine that could mass-produce the gum, permitting him to take care of bigger requests. He got a patent for this gadget in 1871. As per The Encyclopedia of New York City, Adams sold his unique gumâ with the motto Adams New York Gum No. 1 - Snapping and Stretching. In 1888, another Adams biting gum called Tutti-Frutti turned into the primary gum to be sold in aâ vending machine. The machines were situated in New York City metro stations and furthermore sold different assortments of Adams gum. Adams items end up being mainstream, considerably more so than the current gum items available, and he immediately overwhelmed his rivals. His organization appeared Black Jack (a licorice-seasoned gum) in 1884 and Chiclets (named after chicle) in 1899. Adams blended his organization with other gum producers from the United States and Canada in 1899 to frame the American Chicle Company, of which he was the primary director. Different organizations that converged into it included W.J. White and Son, Beeman Chemical Company, Kisme Gum, and S.T. Briton. The rising prominence of biting gum in the decades that followed drove researchers to grow new engineered adaptations; by the by, some good old chicle assortments are as yet made and sold today. Demise Adams in the end ventured down from his initiative situation at the American Chicle Company, however he stayed on the top managerial staff into his late 80s. He passed on February 7, 1905, in New York. Inheritance Adams was not the innovator of biting gum. By and by, his creation of a gadget for mass delivering biting gum, alongside his endeavors to advance it, brought forth the biting gum industry in the United States. One of his items Chiclets, first presented in 1900-is as yet sold the world over today. In 2018, biting gum deals totaled about $4 billion in the United States. The American Chicle Company was bought by a pharmaceutical organization in 1962. In 1997, the organization was renamed Adams to pay tribute to its originator; it is as of now possessed by the candy parlor combination Cadbury, which is situated in England. Sources Dulken, Stephen Van. American Inventions: a History of Curious, Extraordinary, and Just Plain Useful Patents. New York University Press, 2004.McCarthy, Meghan. Pop!: The Invention of Bubble Gum. Simon Schuster, 2010.Segrave, Kerry. Chewing Gum in America, 1850-1920: the Rise of an Industry. McFarland Co., 2015.

A Research of How health and safety affect employees productivity and Essay

A Research of How wellbeing and security influence workers efficiency and friends benefits in Koh Brothers Group - Essay Example Writing Review 4 2.1 Introduction to Literature Review 4 2.2 Importance of Health and Safety at Workplace 5 2.3 Health and Safety at Koh Brothers 6 3. Research Methodology 7 4. End 10 References 12 1. Presentation 1.1 Background of the Company Koh Brothers is a settled development, property improvement and pro designing supplier in Singapore. The organization was begun by Mr Koh Tiat Meng in the year 1966. They have different achievement extends under them, for example, flood lightening, tallying Rochor Canal and Kallang River to give some examples. The gathering has wide-going development administrations and 40 auxiliaries, joint endeavors and related organizations which are spread over Singapore, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. Aside from development, they have enhanced business in building materials, land, relaxation and cordiality. The organization has gotten A1 evaluating by Building and Construction Authority (BCA) which empowered them to embrace different structural de signing undertakings and building ventures throughout the years. Koh Brothers is as of now the most elevated evaluation for contractor’s enrollment in this classification. 1.2 Research title, Research Question, Research Objectives The report primarily centers into the wellbeing and security measures kept up by the organization and how it can influence an employee’s efficiency and friends benefits. ... Additionally, high number of mishaps and representative infection may result in company’s declining benefit. Along these lines, wellbeing and security guidelines ought to be improved and very much executed so as to increment company’s benefits and employee’s spirit in which lead to facilitate profitability. This can build organization benefits as it increment company’s notorieties according to speculators and partners. 2. Writing Review 2.1 Introduction to Literature Review Our focal point of study is to investigate the wellbeing and security guidelines kept up by Koh Brothers and how it has helped them to support the representative execution and furthermore support the organization benefits. As per EANPC â€Å"Productivity is an outflow of how productively and viably merchandise and ventures (for example products and enterprises which are requested by clients) are being delivered. In this way, its key attributes are that it is communicated in physical or financial units - in amounts or qualities (cash) - in light of estimations which are made at various levels: fair and square of the economy generally speaking, that of an area or part of the economy, that of the undertaking and its individual plants/units and that of individuals† (EANPC, 2005). Being a development organization, Koh Brothers put a great deal of weight on Human Resource. They accept that their kin are behind the accomplishment of their organization. Part of wellbeing and security measures are taken by them to guarantee their insurance and care. Their staff under-experience predictable updating course to ensure that they can build up their recently discovered aptitudes, decide new efficiencies for their expert turn of events, and accomplish better fulfillment in their work. 2.2 Importance of Health and Safety at Workplace Research has indicated that fulfilled and glad representatives

Essay Topics On Moby Dick

Essay Topics On Moby DickIf you have ever had to write a Moby Dick essay, then you are aware of how challenging and interesting this type of assignment can be. If you have a high school diploma or less, your opportunities for research are limited; however, when you have a greater background in writing, you may be able to write a Moby Dick essay based on your own research.In addition to the difficulty of some essay topics, there is also the possibility that you may not have taken a course on this topic prior to entering college. If this is the case, your first instinct may be to research the topic on your own. This type of essay, however, should not be done without the assistance of an instructor or guide.It is suggested that you use a textbook for this assignment; if you have not taken any classes on the subject, the oral exams could prove to be disappointing. The same goes for any assignments from a college level course. Your professor or guide should review the material that you ar e going to use and provide suggestions on how to approach the assignment. This is an important consideration before you begin the research and writing process.Many schools also suggest that you take part in the journal articles that focus on essay topics that may be unfamiliar to you. These include writings on Moby Dick, the Northern exploration, and other topics of interest. Taking part in these activities can help you familiarize yourself with the topic.Essay topics on Moby Dick require you to examine various aspects of the story and analyze it from different perspectives. This is something that will make the assignment easier for you as you gain familiarity with the facts. It is also a good idea to study specific passages of the novel as well.You should also be able to use a dictionary and reference works to make specific points. In addition, you should be able to discuss important details such as the length of the voyage, the presence of dogs and cats, and other aspects of the v oyage. Knowing these types of details can make the writing process more enjoyable for you and help you to avoid coming up with false claims.One of the best parts about essay topics like this is that you can use the information as a starting point for further research. This can include reading other books, engaging in discussions with other students, and even taking part in open forums such as message boards. These are all ways to bring information together into a cohesive whole.In addition to your course work, you may want to participate in outside activities such as the Student Resource Center. These types of activities will be a great way to keep yourself engaged with the subjects that you will be discussing. Doing so will ensure that you will be the best writer in your class.

A Brief Note On The Public Health Director - 1499 Words

HIA of Middleton, MA Introduction Middleton is a rural, 14 square mile, town located in the Essex County of Massachusetts. Its population is 8,987 people as of 2000; 18.6% of Middleton’s population is 60 and over. 54% of the land is forestry and wetlands. Only 18% is residential, 1% commercial, 1 public area, and the rest is mainly 3% cropland and 4% pasture. There are no public transportation or bike lanes within the town of Middleton. Team development Derek Fullerton, RS/REHS,CHO Director of Public Health healthdirector@townofmiddleton.org 978-777-1869 The public health director would be an excellent person to have on the committee team, because the director would know of current issues within the town that relate to public health. They would have the training on health impact assessments, and they would be able to consider both environmental and social determinant factors when discussing the public health for the town. Traci Mello, RN, BSN Public Health Nurse phn@townofmiddleton.org 978-777-1869 The public health nurse has the extra medical training and understanding of human health that would bring a more clinical aspect to the committee team. It makes sense to ask this person the chronic health issues and what choices would help improve the quality of life for the citizens. Mello worked on the â€Å"Hiking for Health History of Middleton† brochure that promoted hiking and walking to improve health. Susan J Gannon Executive Director of the Council of AgingShow MoreRelatedDefense Against Terrorism1661 Words   |  7 PagesIn the years following the September 11th terrorist attacks, homeland security has been at the forefront of American public policy. According to a January 2015 Pew Research poll, seventy-five percent of Americans believe that protecting the Homeland against terrorism should be the number one priority for policy makers (Pew Research Center 2015). 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Studying Eras through Art and Architecture - 2397 Words

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Personal Narrative My Sister, Kampbell - 1819 Words

Back in 2012 my sister, Kampbell, decided that she had an interest in gymnastics. My parents, being the loving people they are to her, let her join Kids In Motion, a gymnastics facility in Washington, Missouri. She had a lot of fun with it and has actually got really good. She goes to practice three times a week and has had multiple competitions all around Missouri and I go to most of them. Gymnastics is not the only sport that she plays, she plays volleyball, gymnastics, and she also wants to join cheer when she gets to high school. Currently, she goes to St. George Catholic School and is in eighth grade. Over last summer the national gymnastic competition was in Kingsport, Tennessee, which is the closest to us that it has been in a long†¦show more content†¦Each week we were getting more and more anxious to go. All of a sudden it was time to pack because it was the day before. That morning, I went to weights, when I came back and showered, we were in the car and we left. B efore we got out of town we had to stop at BP, in Hermann, and get something to drink. After a while on Interstate 70, we decided to stop and get something to eat at Chick-fil-A in Warrenton, MO. Once we hit the road again, we didn’t see much, but I will never forget when we crossed the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge, over the Mississippi River, into Illinois because it was the first time we have ever driven a car over the Mississippi River. About the time when we got to Mt Vernon, Illinois, I asked my mom if we could go to the Louisville Bats game, they are the AAA team for the Cincinnati Reds, they were playing the Columbus Clippers, AAA team of the Cleveland Indians. It started at seven, and it would be something to do because I really wanted to do something. After a little convincing, she said yes, so I started looking for tickets, they were only thirteen dollars! When we bought them, we must have been in a bad cellular signal zone because something happened and it didn’t work, we did not know until we got there. When we got there we went to the box office, got three tickets, then we got some food and sat down in our seats, about thirteen rows back from home plate. The stadium was beautiful, they had a

E-Banking in Bangladesh the Future of Banking free essay sample

E-banking is a form of banking where funds are transferred through an exchange of electronic signals between financial institution, rather than exchange of cash, cheeks or other negotiable instruments. With the expansion of global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and the internet, e-banking is set to play a pivotal role in the national economy, proper software, infrastructure, cyber low and skilled manpower are important for the implementation of e-banking in the country. This paper overview the issues associated with e-banking and try to explore the future challenges and prospect in Bangladesh. Key Words: ATM, SMS banking, EFT, SWIFT channel, POS, Call center, DES, RSA, MAC. Introduction: In a constantly changing world of today, where past is replaced by dynamic present and the dynamic present is being replaced by more challenging future, the old ways of doing things is no longer valid. Change is permanent and a reality. Those who are not able to keep pace with the changes are destined to loose the race. Science and technology is changing the way financial institutions perform their transactions. Today’s banks are shaking by these technological changes. Life has never been so easy, comfortable, and luxurious. Science and technology have brought our life to this stage. But a new technology brings with it not only the potential for success but also a never-ending series of questions regarding its design, its value to its users, ultimate use and acceptability. Assistant Professor, School of Business Studies, State University of Bangladesh 1 E-banking is a form of banking where funds are transferred through an exchange of electronic signal between financial institutions, rather than exchange of cash, checks, or other negotiable instruments. For many consumers, electronic banking means 24 hours access to cash through an ATM or direct deposit of paychecks in to checking and savings accounts. Literature Review With the extensive technology innovation and telecommunication, we have seen new financial distribution channels increasing rapidly both in the numbers and form, from ATMs, telephone banking, PC banking to internet banking. (Earring Wood and Story, 1996). Developing alternative distribution channels is not only important in terms of reducing costs and improving competitiveness, but also in terms of financial institution’s ability to retain the existing customer case. (Kimball and Gregor, 1995) as well as to attract new customers. Sathye (1999) proposed a model for Internet Banking in Australia is significantly influenced by variables of system insecurity, case of use awareness of service and its benefits, reasonable price, availability of infrastructure and resistance to change. The transformation from traditional brick-and-mortar banking to E-Banking has been Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) and thus the retail banking industry witnessed significant and extensive change. Formally, E-banking comprises various formats or technologies, including telephone (both land line and cell phone banking, direct bill payment (EFT), and PC or internet banking (Power, 2000). Weitzman, (2000), Lassar, Manolits and Lassar, (2005), Ehou and Chou (2000) identified five basic services associated with online banking: view account balances, and transaction histories, paying bills, transferring funds between accounts, requesting credit card advance, and ordering checks. Majority of banks of banks is planning to introduce ICT for integration of banking service and new finance service, which will play a vital role in bringing efficiency in financial sector (Raihan, 2001). The most commonly factors are ease of use, transaction security, convenience and speediness (Wan, Luk and Chow, 2005). Organization theorists and practioners have defined e-banking in various ways. A Survey of Electronic Banking, Electronic Cash and Internet Gaming (2003), has defined electronic banking as â€Å"an umbrella term for the process by which a customer may perform banking transactions electronically without visiting a brick and mortar institution†. The following terms all refer to one form or another of electronic banking: personal banking,(pc) virtual banking, on line banking, home Banking, remote electronic banking, and phone banking are the most frequently used designations, (Joris, Claessens, Valentine Dem et. l,2001),on line electronic banking system give every body the opportunity for easy access to their banking activities. These banking activities may include; retrieving an account balance, money transfers 2 (Between a user’s accounts, from user’s account to someone else’s account) retrieving an accounting history. Some banks also allow services such as stock market transactions, and the submission of standardized accounting payment files for bank transfer, to third parties, As technology evolves, different kinds of electronic banking system emerge, each bringing a new dimension to the interaction between user and bank. The ATM is the first well-known system that was introduced to facilitate the access of the user to his banking activities, (M. Rahman, 2003), E-banking is a form of banking where funds are transferred through an exchange of electronic signals between financial institution, rather than exchange of cash, checks or other negotiable instruments common wealth bank of Australia, (2006) defined E- banking as â€Å"a range of banking services that utilizes electronic equipment†. Electronic equipments are ATM machine card (plastic), PIN, password, code or net code etc. With the extensive technology innovation and telecommunication. We have seen new financial distribution channels increasing rapidly both in the numbers and form, from ATM’s, telephone banking, PC banking to internet banking. A broad range of financial distribution channels must be available to deliver varying services needs of customers segments (Earring wood and story, 1996). Developing alternative distribution channels is not only important in terms of reducing costs and improving competitiveness but also in terms of a financial institution’s bility to retain the existing customer case (Kimball and Gregor, 1995) as well as to future attract new customers. While the trend within the banking industry is to replace human tellers with self-service distribution channel’s. the strength of customer intentions for usage of human tellers within the next two years support the concept that the branch will still play an instrumental rate in the delivery of services to cust omers in the future. (Greenland,1995; Woodruff, 19*95; Thornton and White, 2000). Sathye (1999) proposed a model for Internet Banking Adoption, which argued that the Intention of Internet Banking in Australia is significantly influenced by variables of system insecurity, case of use awareness of service and its benefits, reasonable price, availability of infrastructure and resistance to charge. The Willis Report (1997 in Sathye, 1999) Stated that the technology must be reasonably priced relative to alternatives for customers to adopt. Otherwise the acceptance of the new technology may not be viable from customer’s stand point. Customers today are more conscious of the expenses associated with the banking as they are generally better informed about alternative option. The total costs incurred in using Internet Banking must be minimal or competitive (Joyawardhena and foley, 2000). Howard and Moore (1982) reported that consumers must be aware of the new brand before adoption. Therefore it is important factor that the boxes have to create awareness on internet banking to the consumers. Adoption means acceptance and continued use of a 3 product, service and idea. Customers go through a process of knowledge, persuasion, decision and confirmation before they adopt the product or services. Offer the internet banking; the greater the awareness level among customers and therefore the higher will be internet banking adoption. Besides awareness, the service provided by the banks should be perceived to be innovative with high quality and user friendliness to meet an individual’s expectation. Cooper (1997) reported that case of use of innovation product or service as one of the three important characteristics for adoption from the customer’s perspective. This is related to user friendliness and ease of navigation as well as simple institutions to use the service. E-banking is the waves of the future. It provides enormous benefits to consumers in terms of case and cost of transactions, either through internet, telephone or other electronic delivery channels (Nsouli and Schaechter, 2002) E-banking development would lead to two classes of surviving banks, which are very large banks and small niche ones (Dewan and Seismanm, 2002). Through the E-banking, smaller banks could compete by offering portals to the services offered by larger banks (Holland and Westwood, 2001) with this development, banks could use E-banking to focus an customer need in order to gain the strongest competitive advantage (Wind, 2001). The transformation from traditional brick-and-mortar banking to E-banking has been automatic teller machine (ATM) has the retail banking industry witnessed such significant and extensive change. Formally, E-banking comprises varies formats or technologies, including telephone (both landline and cell phone banking, direct bill payment (EFT), and PC or internet banking (Power, 2000); Weitzman, 2000; Lassar, Manolits and Lassar, (2005), Ehou and Chou (2000) identified five basic services associated with online banking: view account balances, and transaction histories; paying bills, transferring funds between accounts; requesting credit card advanced; and ordering checks. Majority of banks is planning to introduce ICT for integration of banking service and new finance service, which will play a vital role in bragging efficiency in the financial sector (Raihan, 2001). The most commonly factors are ease of use, transaction security, convenience and speediness (Wan, Luk and Chow, 2005). ICT networking has offered a wide range of delivering channel’s in retail banking. Banking institutions need to exploit opportunities that arise from these development and changes to remain competitive. The successful financial institutions in the future will be those that are able to leverage most from the information and communication technology revolution. Increasingly consumers are also demanding more efficient banking services are becoming more discrediting of the power that the technology brings. The winners will be those financial institutions that are able to harness on the Capability of ICT in making strategies decisions in terms of inability leader alignment of business, enhancing 4 organizational capacity and capability, risk management and building better customer relationships CC the rapid pace of advancement. A survey of electronic cash, electronic banking and internet gaming (2002) reported that the term electronic cash, e-cash or e-money refer to electronic payment schemes that enable consumer to store and redeem financial value. They operate via stored electronic units of value. Paid for in advance by conventional money and representing equivalent units in real currency, these funds can be transferred between vendors and individuals using compatible electronic system, in some cases consumers report to banks or other financial intimidators. E-cash (e-money) comes in two forms: smart card e-cash and computer e-cash Major Research Questions Q1. What is the present (April, 2009) status of e-banking in Bangladesh? Q2. What are various forms of E-banking available in Bangladesh? Q3. What are the differences between e-commerce and e-banking? Q4. What are the operational issues of E-banking in Bangladesh? Q5. How much secure is the E-banking in Bangladesh? Q6. Where is E-banking going in Bangladesh? Objectives of the Study The following are the major objectives of this study: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) To examine the present (April, 2009) status of E-banking in Bangladesh. To identify various forms of E-banking available in Bangladesh. To trace out similarities and differences between E-commerce and E-banking. To examine the three factor authentication for E-banking in Bangladesh. To provide guidelines how can we assure the highest standards of security to combine with maximum flexibility? To identify the future challenges posed by the E-banking in Bangladesh. A few recommendations on the policy issues regarding E-banking in Bangladesh. Methodology of the Study Both primary and secondary data collection methods are applied for this study purpose. I have collected data through check list, interview with the head of IT and from some published sources. This research is basically exploratory and descriptive in nature. Limitations of the study 5 a) b) c) d) We have not focused on various modes of E-banking. We have not made comparison with banking practice around the world. We have not provided insight for security in e-banking system. We have not focused on the critical issues on security in e-banking. What is E-Banking? The following chart exhibits the definition of E-Banking. E-Commerce E-Finance E-Money E-Banking ATM Services Any branch banking Internet Banking Virtual Banking SMS banking Wireless Application Protocols Telephone Banking Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) SWIFT Channel Other electronic delivery channels Other on line Financial Services and Products E-Commerce: The Phenomenon of Electronic Commerce has permeated into every aspect of our life today. Electronic Commerce has been around for the last two decades in some form or the other, but the new force that is driving Electronic Commerce is the Internet, which is revolutionizing the way companies around the globe conduct business. Internet based electronic commerce is playing a critical role in addressing strategic, mission critical business needs of the companies and hence the companies are making it an integral part of their business strategies. 6 Globally, according to a survey conducted by IDC, currently the electronic commerce over the Internet is some $26 billion, while it is expected to reach about $1. 5 trillion by 2008-09. These mind boggling, figures are sufficient for any sane individual, even vaguely connected to industry, trade or commerce, to understand the potentially radical influence that E-commerce is having on human society. All this is due to the Internet, a simple network of networks of computers across the globe, linked through various means: cable, satellite, telephone lines etc. based on the TCP/IP protocol. This network has not only altered the way we conduct trade and commerce, but also fundamentally altered the way we communicate, the way we live and to some extent, the way we think. Simply, E-commerce is buying and selling on electronic networks, predominantly the Internet. This could involve trade of tangible goods/services similar to traditional commerce, or intangible items like music, information and involving digital transfer etc. The World Trade Organization (WTO) distinguishes six main instruments of electronic commerce: The Telephone, the fax, the television, Electronic payment and money transfer systems, Electronic Data Interchange, and The Internet. Though the telephone, fax, TV and EDI have been in existence for some time, but when people talk of E-commerce, they usually refer to Internet Business, wherein goods or services are traded on the net. Fundamentally, there are two types of electronic commerce – 1. Business to Business electronic commerce (B2B), and 2. Business to Consumer electronic commerce (B2C) B2B E-commerce is today about 80% of total E-commerce in the world, due to its advantages like: reduced transaction costs, improved product quality , improved service, minimal investment for global reach, reduced inventory costs etc. B2C or retail E-commerce is nowhere near B2B in terms of size but it is growing phenomenally as far as volumes are concerned. More and more people are taking to shopping on the Internet due to the following factors: Convenience, More choice, more range, Better prices, etc. DRIVERS OF E-COMMERCE The following broad themes have been identified as the driving forces for the phenomenal growth of E-commerce globally: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) Electronic Commerce is easy and affordable Electronic Commerce transforms the market place Electronic Commerce has a catalytic effect Enhanced customer service Electronic commerce over the Internet vastly increases interactivity in the economy Openness is the underlying technical and philosophical tenet of the expansion of Ecommerce 7 (vii) Electronic commerce alters the relative importance of time E-Money E-money includes electronic debit and credit system, smart card. The smart card has been defined many ways, but is generally defined as â€Å"portable data storage device with intelligence (chip memory) and provision for identity and security. † In their simplest forms, these cards are small microcomputers—lacking only external power supply, displays, and keyboards. One of the most widely tested stored value cards offered by Mondex, has an electric wallet, available as an optional accessory, with both of these peripheral devices. The microprocessor chip in a stored –value card is specialized and custom-designed, generally with specific patented control and production circuits. Certain data, primarily related to the security of the card, can be entered only at the time of manufacture. In addition to a microprocessor each card generally has several kilobytes of permanent memory, both rewritable and non-rewriteable. A new technology brings with it not only the potential for success. But also a neverending series of questions regarding its design, its value to the user, its ultimate use and acceptability. In this paper the term smart cards, stored-value cards and electronic money will be used to denote money in the form of â€Å"value†, whether it is issued in card-based or network-based form. Although there are technical differences the term â€Å"smart card† is generally used interchangeably with stored-value card. There are many questions regarding these new payments devices that need to be answered by the designers, issuers, and regulators of these devices. This innovation has the potential of changing the retail payments arena in a way that has not happened since the advent of the credit card. But at this time it is only potential. Although there has been significant effort made to eliminate paper-based payment transactions, the basic way of handling payments by consumers has not changed. Storedvalue cards may help to make the transition from paper-based payments to electronicallybased payments more likely as these cards incorporate familiar aspects of using money in a way that could prove to be both convenient and acceptable to the public. As money technology has evolved, methods of payment have also changed, but cash still often remains a preferred method of payment by many people. Over the past few decades various media and industry experts have predicted the demise of cash and the advent of 8 the â€Å"cashless† society. However, recent survey results showed that the preferred form of payments by consumers and merchants was still cash. Table 1 presents the results of that survey Preferred Forms of Payments By Consumers Cash 3rd Party Credit Cards (i. e. , Visa) Check Store Credit Cards Debit Cards Others 54. 2% 38. 5% 23. 4% 6. 5% 1. 0% 1. 1% *Percentages will not add to 100%, due to format of questions asked. Table-1: World-wide Preferred forms of Payments The survey, conducted by Ernst Young, showed also that 58% of retailers had a preference for cash transactions. The evidence from this survey is noteworthy, as it is easy to see the vast market potential for a product such as the smart card that is designed to be a replacement primarily for cash transactions. The number of cash purchases far exceeded any other payment method, although their value accounts for less than 20 percent of the value of total consumer transactions on a monthly basis.

Truth about online custom writings Essay Example

Truth about online custom writings Paper The paper writing expresses the authors own opinion on a particular question or issue, without claiming to be fully interpreted, is consider as professional assignment writing. Such high quality papers are somewhere between a scientific article and a small essay-opinion. It does not require such strict narrative as a report. The manner of presentation of such essay writing occupies an average place between the scientific and journalistic style. During academic writing, you can insert citations into the text, but their volume should not exceed 1/3 of the volume of the text of the whole work. This means that professional writing involves working with literature and getting to know different opinions on the topic under consideration. In the other case you can just use custom writing services. They are ready and willing for college and university students whenever you need and whether you need. Writing essays term papers require some skill and inspiration. Writers and editors of essay writing industry will help you complete and cope with this task. It’s easy to order plagiarism free paper writing, just place order, fill out the application form and you will get the quality written essays done on the topic you need. Custom writing service can offer you the best value for money in the market. You can order custom essay writing online, and essay writers will follow your instructions. Scientific articles, electronic versions of books, legislative acts, information from electronic dictionaries (for example Wikipedia) are not considered as plagiarism. All writers check an essay for plagiarism free online on our website before submitting it to you and conform to the standard of our site. Works containing quotes from laws and regulations may have a lower percentage. The procedure of ordering the paper Click on the button Order essay on the main page of the site of writing company. 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Writing websites want the student to get custom writing with a minimum number of corrections and modifications, and to be evaluated for the highest grade. What do writing services guarantee and for what prices? The ability to communicate via the Internet makes the company and customers closer. You don’t have to limit yourself to services that are near your home, you can order a service anywhere in the world. It became easy to find the best option for price and quality, not bothering with territorial problems. Writing companies carries out their activities officially in accordance with the procedure established by law. The main activity is the provision of information services. They check each customs writing for compliance with the primary requirements for registration, compliance with the topic, the content. All works are tested in the system of Antiplagiat. They do not allow plagiarism. All modifications are free of charge. 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Implementation of Electronic Medical Records

Implementation of Electronic Medical Records Introduction Information technology has recently become one of the most reliable technologies in efficient service delivery. Implementation of the system within health sector is viewed as a move in reducing medical errors, hence promoting patient safety as well as reducing costs. However, implementation of the new models requires variety of measurable elements capable of creating an impact on patient safety initiatives (Borkowski, 2009). Proposal on Implementation of EMR Electronic Medical Records are associated with many functions within the health care system. Patient health records contain important information, such as patient health care, financial breakdown, legal information as well as detailed research and quality improvement cases. Such information is always necessary within the medical field, hence it needs to be shared amongst many professional medics within the health care field. Such demand makes it a little cumbersome to use paper health records calling for the development of an automated health recording system. Electronic Medical Record will provide chances for improving quality of care and patient safety within health organizations. The system will help in providing solution to the challenge of dealing with integrated healthcare delivery by providing detailed, reliable and accessible timely information on patient health status across the medical field whether in primary or secondary health care. The EMR will reduce the costs on keeping paper records as well as decreasing inefficiencies within health care sector. The EMR has got increased storage capabilities enabling data to be stored from any region and for longer periods of time, enabling instant retrieval of information to many people even in remote sites (Young, 200, p 99). The idea on fragmentation of clinical records posed by paper records will be minimized hence reducing costs, which could have been otherwise incurred on current and future patient care (Schloeffel, 2001, p 1). The built-in intelligence capabilities of the EMR system will assist in recognizing abnormal laboratory results. The system provides efficient access to protocols, care plans, critical paths and other databases on healthcare knowledge such as pharmaceutical information (Borkowski, 2009). Start-up costs might be of disadvantage to many since it can be excessive at times. Allocation of capital to information system provides added costs on health care expenditure. Another disadvantage is that it requires substantial technical knowledge for the system to be used efficiently. This calls for all the physicians and clinicians to have prior knowledge on the system operation for purposes of realizing benefits of interactive on-line decision support (Borkowski, 2009). Proposal on Implementation of CPOE Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) presents one of the point-of-care products which will help in playing the key role in dealing with the cases concerning patient safety objectives. The system involves electronic communication of orders as well as detailed protocol for checking against drug references and other medical information. CPOE is physician-focused and will help in the issues of developing fewer medication transcription as well as order errors. The tool will help most physicians in selecting correct medication and therapies for each patient. The equipment’s ability to customize ordering processes will assist in easy identification of physician needs and most importantly allow for prevention of problem occurrence by counter checking errors before completion of any order. The tracking system involved in this technology will help clinicians and physicians to evaluate their actions and compare to those of their peers in addition to comparing treatment recommendations within the given standards and guidelines (Borkowski, 2009). However, the CPOE may not be effective on its own until it is integrated together with other crucial clinical information systems. Another disadvantage is that there is still possibility of incurring errors within the system owing to the natural assumption that computers are always right. There are also multiple steps involved in operating multiple screens required for completion of order signing. This proves to be time-consuming when used by many people is at the same time. Frequent computer access might not be possible, especially in cases where only few computer stations are available in spite of many users (Borkowski, 2009). Changes within organizations normally occur either as planned or unplanned. Planned changes are known to arise from either single or series of changes linked to organization goals and objectives. While unplanned changes normally arise as a result of the unexpected uncertainties within the organization. Various changes are required for the purposes of incorporating the modern computerized equipment with the work environment. The change undergoes three environmental stages including; societal environment, task environment then finally internal environment. Within the societal environment, EMR technology will have to be approved by the legal authorities within the government by looking at its technological and economical impacts within the health sector (Borkowski, 2009). Technologically the equipment has the capability of speeding up the recording on individual health matters as well as ability to store large amount of data and sharing it over wide area within the shortest time possible. It saves on costs since it makes health records available within reach of medical practitioners and patients. The socio-cultural forces which tend to oppose the nature of the records in exposing patients medical records to the public would be dealt with by promising confidentiality to the patients’ medical information through the use of specified passwords. Only the patients and trusted medics would be allowed to use the specified password whenever they want to access the patient’s medical information for the purposes of further treatment. Legal acts like the HIPAA would be enforced to ensure that tough measures, including fines are imposed on those trying to misuse individual’s medical records discriminatorily. In some places, employers use medical records to discriminate individuals on employment opportunities (Borkowski, 2009). The task environment includes several players such as employees, special interest groups, competitors, customers amongst others. Dealing with competitors will call for marketing the superior abilities and qualities of the technology. Employees would be placed on thorough training on how to use the equipment confidentially without loosing on the confidence of the patients concerning their medical records. Suppliers would be endowed with the task of working with computer specialists for the purposes of EMR installations. Internal forces related to the structures, processes as well as resources within the organizations which at times lead to low profit margins could be addressed by ensuring the efficiency of the equipment through delivery. This could save on costs required for the storage of large amount of documents; the technology would as well confine all medical data to one source making it easier for services to be delivered without fragmented processes (Borkowski, 2009). Some of the challenges involved include such cases as lack of autonomy, especially in the process when patient’s data is shared amongst health care providers without informing the patient. The exposure of patient’s data does not guarantee fidelity in any way since it can be stolen by unknown parties. This could easily lead to compromised treatment within the society since patients may be overwhelmed by fear of exposure. Conflicts arise within the medical ethical principles concerning safety of patient health records. There is a breach on confidentiality and right to privacy on the side of the patients. Hence patients can easily be discriminated within the market place as mentioned earlier in the article (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1998). Computer-based Electronic Health Records presents one of the technological advances within health care system. Such technology is of great benefit in health sector since it has helped in improving the level of access and quality at affordable costs. On the same note, computerized system will help in providing accurate information on billing hence allowing medics to forward any payment claims electronically. This would ensure timely and efficient payment to health care providers. It would save the patient hectic time, which might arise in providing information over and over whenever they seek medical attention (Lohr, 2007). The use of computerized medical systems enables improvement on the quality of care provided and also guarantees reduction in medical errors. There is improvement in the level of efficiency and reduction in medical costs since the methods enable easy coordination between health care providers on patient’s care. The system would enable smooth transfer of information, eliminating the possibilities which had earlier been experienced in duplication of health information by the third parties (Hartzband and Groopman, 2008). References Borkowski, Nancy. (2009). Organizational Behavior, Theory, and Design in Health Care. NY: Jones Bartlett Ppublishers. Hartzband, P. Groopman, J. (2008). Avoiding the Pitfalls of Going Electronic? New England Journal of Medicine, (358), 1656-1658. Lohr, S. (2007, June 11). Risks and Rewards; Who Pays for Efficiency. New York Times. Web. Schloeffel, P. (2001). Background and Overview of the Good Electronic Health Record. Retrieved from gehr.org/ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1998). Security and Electronic Signature Standards; Proposed Rule. The Federal Register, 45 (142). Young, K. M. (2000). Informatics for Healthcare Professionals. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.

Constitutional Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Constitutional Law - Essay Example In such a way, the power of government officials to harass and/or infringe upon what the founders saw as the â€Å"fundamental† and â€Å"innate† rights of mankind is severely restricted. Firstly, it must be understood that regardless of what type of economic situation the given country ascribes to, and even regardless of the particular political situation that may exist within its boundaries, the restriction of government from being able to stop and search an individual without any type of probable cause or warrant violates the very most basic forms of human rights and democratic ideals by which a free and open society is ultimately founded upon (Cady, 2012). Taking this example and present era, or the recent past, it can easily be determined that the fourth amendment the United States Constitution provides a level of protection of the individual, is/her papers, and personal effects, that many nations have not traditionally respected (Leong, 2012). Yet another reason w hy the fourth amendment to the United States Constitution can and should be considered as the most important is with respect to the fact that the prior amendments, and subsequent amendments for that matter, would make little if any sense if there was not a level of guaranteed protection for the personal facts, documents, and persons that were subject to search. What is meant by this is that the freedom of expression would necessarily be negated if any and all individuals that expressed an alternate view to whatever political party or power was in control at that time were summarily searched and harassed, the entire fabric an understanding of why the freedom of speech was important and should be appreciated would necessarily evaporate (Harr, 2012). Similarly, the right to own and bear arms would have little if any merit if any and all non-owners worsen merely harassed and searched by law enforcement officials at each and every juncture. The same can of course be applied with regards to the rights of African-Americans or women to vote, the same could be applied with regards to freedom of assembly and/or freedom of religion. In fact, each and every amendment the United States Constitution is predicated upon the belief that the United States government will not retaliate against a specific group of individuals for exercise of their rights (Robinson, 2004). By constraining the level and degree to which government and/or law enforcement officials can target and search specific subsets of individuals, this particular amendment provides a very broad level of freedom with respect to the fabric and foundations of the Republic. Finally, the fourth amendment is one of the few amendments to the United States Constitution that specifies a particular course of judicial action with regards to the way in which the rights and law of the United States must integrate with one another. Although it is true that the other amendments make necessary reference to the means by which law is utilized to protect these rights, the fourth amendment is unique due to the fact that it specifically delineates the means by which searches and seizures must take place in order to ascribe by the very laws that have been discussed and applied (Richardson, 2012). Although it is not the intention of this analysis to set the United States apart as the best country on Earth or seek to define it in glowing

EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE - Research Paper Example As such, this study aims at reviewing the available literature with regard to VAP bundle; describe the risk factors and etiology and explain the bundled practices; discuss the framework that would promote knowledge translation of VAPBs to clinical set-up; and finally identify the areas needing further research and how this could be use to curb VAP incidence. Despite the paper having the limitation of unclear data collection process, its strength in diversity, thus reliability comes out in the use of inclusion criteria to source data from various search engines – Cochrane Collaboration, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE and MEDLINE - giving a sample of six peer-reviewed studies published between 1997 and 2007. Each of these studies examined the bundled practices. The findings of the study indicate that the bundled VAP, VAPB practices reduce the rates of VAP. In addition, the practice reduces mortality rates, the length of stay under intensive care and the ventilator days. There was also an indication of increased compliance among clinicians with regard to VAPB protocols as the VAP rates decrease. Even though the study suffered unclear methodology, it provides useful insights on care for patients with respiratory complications. In this study, McCarthy, Santiago and Lau (2008) appreciate the need for evaluating the efficacy of VAPBs against the common ventilator care practices using RCTs (randomized controlled trials) employing clinical outcomes like mortality rates, ventilator days and VAP rates as indicators. However, the study fails to measure the effectiveness of the relationship between VAPBs and the outcomes. The findings in this paper point towards the need to implement research-based VAPBs into the normal clinical practice. For effective implementation, I will adopt the PARIHS (Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services) conceptual framework as it effectively informs on transfer of knowledge

Four hours with the CSPD Essay Example for Free

Four hours with the CSPD Essay I want to express my gratitude and share my ride-a-long experience. The first thing I had to do was contact the Colorado Springs Stetson Hills Area Command to schedule my ride-along. I read the departments ride-along program policy and I received instructions on what I had to do to fulfill the necessary program requirements. Once the initial paperwork was done, a few signatures, a waiver and a criminal background check, I was ready to go. On the day of my ride-along while in the waiting room I met another person who was on a ride-along for class credit as well. After newly hour of waiting I finally met my officer. The officer that was chosen to allow me to ride-along was a female officer. Following her introduction we headed out to the Charger. I was giving a walkie-talkie with an earpiece so that I could listen to the communication from the dispatch. We entered the vehicle, buckled up and started on our way. In the cruiser the officer had logged into her laptop to check her files and looked at any updates on her calls. I was informed that my experience would vary just as much as the calls that the officers went out on from day to day. Some of my responsibilities were that I had to be self-sufficient, be able to think ahead, have the ability to know where I was and most importantly enjoy myself. Our first call was about an attempted shoplifting at a Safeway store. I had the opportunity to drive around the neighborhood and see homes were suspected criminal activity was believed to be. We also responded to a runaway from home. The last thing we did was make a traffic stop for an expired license plate registration. The great thing about the day was that I was able to ask her questions about how police procedures work and how they operate. My hope after this experience is that more people will carry themselves in the manner I observed during my ride-along and recognize what an asset and a delight our officers are to our city. I am now a huge fan of law enforcement because all the officers I saw or had contact with were kind, helpful and efficient. They often work alone, in remote areas. What was interesting to me was the amount of conservation the Officer engaged in. It was revealed through the ride-a-long that Officers do much more than enforce laws. An Officers job is much more than writing tickets. They conduct ongoing public relations. What a wonderful experience for me to see officers respond to incidents involving citizens and watch them handle situations in the same way I believe I would. I now have a completely different outlook and understanding of what our men and women in law enforcement must do every day to keep us safe. I was very impressed with the way they all conducted themselves while performing their duties. They were professional and tactful in the way he interacted with the people they had contact with throughout my ride-along. Each person was treated with the same level of respect. Watching the officer perform her duties made me feel completely safe as she showed complete competence. I found this experience to be informative and I saw a side of law enforcement that most of us never see. I recommend that others in our community spend time with our officers, as I did. My ride alone ended up after four hours and it was certainly eye-opening experience. I sympathize so much with the police officers now. Also I think that everyone should go do a ride-along program at least once in their lifetime, it will change the way you think about them. By the time we finished, I didnt witness any arrests or have the opportunity to blow through any red lights with blaring sirens but I was still impressed. For me it was a pretty fulfilling shift. I got to participate in the Colorado Springs Police Departments Ride-along program and I got to ride shotgun with one of the Springs finest. She even offered to let me stay on until her shift ended if I wanted to. The officer said that this ride-along was a pretty run-of-the-mill shift. Fortunately, there was no major violence during my ride. My hope, after this experience, is that more people will do a ride-along and recognize what an asset and a delight our officers are to our city.

Ethics in Business :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework Essays

*From a business perspective, working under government contracts can be a very lucrative proposition. In general, a stream of orders keep coming in, revenue increases and the company grows in the aggregate. The obvious downfalls to working in this manner is both higher quality expected as well as the extensive research and documentation required for government contracts. If a part fails to perform correctly it can cause minor glitches as well as problems that can carry serious repercussions, such as in the National Semiconductor case. When both the culpable component and company are found, the question arises of how extensive these repercussions should be. Is the company as an entity liable or do you look into individual employees within that company? From an ethical perspective one would have to look at the mitigating factors of both the employees and their superiors along with the role of others in the failure of these components. Next you would have to analyze the final ruling from a corporate perspective and then we must examine the macro issue of corporate responsibility in order to attempt to find a resolution for cases like these. The first mitigating factor involved in the National Semiconductor case is the uncertainty, on the part of the employees, on the duties that they were assigned. It is plausible that during the testing procedure, an employee couldnt distinguish which parts they were to test under government standards and commercial standards. In some cases they might have even been misinformed on the final consumers of the products that they tested. In fact, ignorance on the part of the employees would fully excuse them from any moral responsibility for any damage that may result from their work. Whether it is decided that an employees is fully excused, or is given some moral responsibility, would have to be looked at on an individual basis. The second mitigating factor is the duress or threats that an employee might suffer if they do not follow through with their assignment. After the bogus testing was completed in the National Semiconductor labs, the documentation department also had to falsify documents stating that the parts had surpassed the governmental testing standards. From a legal and ethical standpoint, both the testers and the writers of the reports were merely acting as agents on direct orders from a superior. This was also the case when the plant in Singapore refused to falsify the documents Ethics in Business :: GCSE Business Marketing Coursework Essays *From a business perspective, working under government contracts can be a very lucrative proposition. In general, a stream of orders keep coming in, revenue increases and the company grows in the aggregate. The obvious downfalls to working in this manner is both higher quality expected as well as the extensive research and documentation required for government contracts. If a part fails to perform correctly it can cause minor glitches as well as problems that can carry serious repercussions, such as in the National Semiconductor case. When both the culpable component and company are found, the question arises of how extensive these repercussions should be. Is the company as an entity liable or do you look into individual employees within that company? From an ethical perspective one would have to look at the mitigating factors of both the employees and their superiors along with the role of others in the failure of these components. Next you would have to analyze the final ruling from a corporate perspective and then we must examine the macro issue of corporate responsibility in order to attempt to find a resolution for cases like these. The first mitigating factor involved in the National Semiconductor case is the uncertainty, on the part of the employees, on the duties that they were assigned. It is plausible that during the testing procedure, an employee couldnt distinguish which parts they were to test under government standards and commercial standards. In some cases they might have even been misinformed on the final consumers of the products that they tested. In fact, ignorance on the part of the employees would fully excuse them from any moral responsibility for any damage that may result from their work. Whether it is decided that an employees is fully excused, or is given some moral responsibility, would have to be looked at on an individual basis. The second mitigating factor is the duress or threats that an employee might suffer if they do not follow through with their assignment. After the bogus testing was completed in the National Semiconductor labs, the documentation department also had to falsify documents stating that the parts had surpassed the governmental testing standards. From a legal and ethical standpoint, both the testers and the writers of the reports were merely acting as agents on direct orders from a superior. This was also the case when the plant in Singapore refused to falsify the documents

Character Sketch Sample

Sample character sketch – my friend Liz. My friend Liz is the most amazing friend anybody could ask for. We’ve been through so much together, we’re basically like sisters. We met on the first day of school in sixth grade, both of us terrified by the massive size of the middle school. She had the locker right above mine. I told her I didn’t know anybody in our class and she said â€Å"You do now. † We’ve been friends ever since. Most boys think Liz is cute. She has long red hair, cascading over her shoulders. She laughs about everything and when she does, you see about a hundred white teeth – so bright, you almost need sunglasses. When she laughs, her eyes grow wide, glowing emerald green. Liz likes to dress kind of skater-ish, in camouflage pants, sweatshirts, and wristbands. But, she’s unpredictable, too. Sometimes she’ll wear overalls or a fancy dress. She must have three closets full of clothes, because she barely ever wears the same outfit twice. Liz is the most lively, animated character I’ve ever known. She’s always rushing around, trying to get the latest scoop on everybody. It’s like she’s in the FBI. Right before she shares important news, Liz tosses back her hair, takes a deep breath, and quickly looks side to side, to be sure the coast is clear. She never says anything mean about people, she just wants to know what’s going on. She always supports me in everything I want to do. Not many girls in our group of friends play sports, but when I told Liz I wanted to go out for basketball, she said â€Å"Go for it. † Now, she comes to see almost every game I play and cheer me on. Not only is Liz a tremendous supporter, she also trusts me to give her my honest opinion and to say what I feel. Last year, she thought Mrs. Jones gave her a lower math grade than she deserved. I told her the truth – that Liz handed everything in late and what did she expect? Next marking period, Liz got her work in on time, and pulled off an A-. Thanks to me, she said. Liz is a wonderful listener. She lets me tell her all my problems and she never diminishes the importance of my worries. I can tell she’s really listening, too, because she looks directly in my eyes the whole time, like she’s trying to see inside my head and figure me out. We don’t always agree on everything, and sometimes we even fight like sisters. But, in the end, we always stick together. Writing a CHARACTER SKETCH – can you draw your friend IN WORDS? Writers need to describe people believably and realistically. They need to describe characters in such detail readers can actually feel they know them. A character sketch is a way to put people on paper. It goes beyond just describing a person’s physical characteristics. Character sketches are most effective when they reveal â€Å"telling† details that capture the essence of someone’s personality. ?You are going to write a character sketch for someone you know. It could be a friend, family member, or anybody you know well. Here’s a list of things to include in your character sketch: †¢ opening – introduce the topic (your friend) †¢ explain how you met, or where you know each other from †¢ give a physical description – appearance, clothes, voice, habits, mannerisms, etc. †¢ personality trait #1, and supporting evidence †¢ personality trait #2, and supporting evidence †¢ personality trait #3, and supporting evidence †¢ closing comment – try to reconnect to your opening You do not have to follow this exact order, but your character sketch does need to include all these parts. TIP: Think about your friend in vivid detail. What color are her eyes? What kind of clothes does she favor? What kind of shoes? How is her hair cut and styled? Dig deeper. How does he talk? Fast, slow, soft? What nervous habits does he have? What does he daydream about? What music does he like? What sports? What subjects in school? These details can say a lot about personality.

The Fashion Industry - Zara Free Essay Example, 2500 words

From the point of view of the currency, the Euro is also strong as compared to the dollar in the US market thus they do not need to worry about the economic front (Arieff, 2010). Socio-Cultural factors The fashion industry is hugely effected due to the social elements present in the European Countries (Howe, 2003). Let us discuss it from the point of view of different age groups. The youngsters have the habit of buying clothes that are from the current trend and very fashionable so that they get attention from the others. But, they are also stuck with a limited budget and can only afford the clothes with the help of their pocket money. So for them, the trend would essentially be stuck to the garments like cheap and chic would be appropriate. According to Kluyver (2010), the market of Europe and Asia is growing and has a huge potential for the fashion industry. Technological Factors With the advancements in the technology, the internet has become the new shopping zone for the consumers. They can easily check and buy their clothes online without having to pay extra and also receiving the doorstep delivery of their items (Doyle. We will write a custom essay sample on The Fashion Industry - Zara or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now 2012). Thus, most of the organizations are transforming they network framework to link it with the online retail stores for easier delivery of the clothes (Bonacich, 2011). Since technology is constantly upgrading with new innovations being done everyday, it is advised that the fashion retailers also keep themselves updates and put the stress on the use of technology to streamline their process of the selling and connecting with the consumers in a much better manner. (Bhagwt, 2011) Porter’s Five Forces Threat of new entrants According to Mohring (2009), it is very difficult for the new players to enter the market of fashion and apparel. The main reason behind this statement is the high level of competition between the major players in the market. Thus, the market is getting saturated and difficult the new players. Most of the companies have already gained a majority of the market share and the market requires a lot of investment for an initial set up of an apparel company (Doyle, 2012) (Bonacich, 2011). Threat of substitutes As per Gardetti and Torres (2013) most of the players in the fashion industry have a market strategy of targeting the niche segment of consumers. This mainly possible due to the fact that each of these apparel brands has their own style and fashion line which exclusive to themselves. Apart from this, they also have an affordable clothing line for the general public who have an interest in the brand.

Are zero carbon homes achievable by 2016 - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 33 Words: 9841 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Statistics Essay Did you like this example? ABSTRACT Anthropogenic climate change is a phenomenon that has received much attention in the last few decades, and for good reason. Since the renowned studies carried out by Dr. Rowland and Dr. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Are zero carbon homes achievable by 2016" essay for you Create order Molina, which began in the 1970s on Ozone depletion, subsequent studies have revealed that human activity is causing the planets atmospheric and surface temperatures to rise and may also be a major contributor towards climate shift, due by and large by the release of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse particulates and gases in to the atmosphere. The effects of climate shift include severe weather conditions, receding glaciers and ice caps, rising sea levels and drought, with the poorest countries being affected the most. Since the introduction of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, the UK government is committed to the agreement to reduce UK carbon emission by 80% by the year 2050. It has been suggested that the 21 million homes in the UK account for around a quarter of the total carbon emissions into the atmosphere. With the current governments indication to increase the number of dwellings to 3 million by the year 2020 due to the rising population, a greater effort is needed to reduce carbon emissions within the housing sector; a drive that will aid the UK Governments long-term commitment to the United Nations Framework convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol. The government is responding to the challenge quite firmly and has set out strict targets to reduce energy use in new dwellings. To implement such a monumental task, the government has put in place a scheme called the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH), which sets out criteria for reducing energy for all new dwellings. Gordon Browns Governments main objective is for all new dwellings to be Zero-Carbon by 2016. The current research paper sets out to identify the impediments that may prevent Gordon Browns policy of achieving the zero carbon homes challenge and also to determine the drivers in achieving zero carbon homes across the board by 2016. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author would like to thank the individuals who have assisted in the production of this dissertation. A special thank you must go to my supervising tutor Dr. Michael Coffey, whose wisdom and guidance provided support and inspiration towards completing this dissertation. I would also like to thank all those persons who responded to the research questionnaire, which made a significant contribution towards the production of this dissertation. Finally I would like to thank my wife Uzma and children Saqlain, Aaliyah and Owais for their support and for putting up with my neglect towards them in the last few months. Thank you again! Section 1 Introduction Nature of the Problem Since the Industrial revolution in the late 18th century, greenhouse gas emissions have increased considerably. Scientists have observed that a third of the Suns energy that is directed towards the boundaries of the Earths atmosphere is reflected back into space, whilst the remaining energy is absorbed by the surface of the planet and to a lesser extent by the planets atmosphere. Anthropogenic influence upon climate change is partly caused by the escalation of excess greenhouse gases emitted in to the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, principally influenced by the burning of fossil fuels. The effects of climate shift include severe weather conditions, receding glaciers and ice caps, rising sea levels and drought, with the poorest countries being affected the most. The problem scientists have determined is that the sun radiates tremendous amounts of light energy emitted in short wavelengths, however the heat energy released from the surface of the planet itself is released in long wavelengths. Whilst carbon dioxide does not absorb the suns energy, it does however absorb heat energy from the planet i.e. long wavelength energy. Therefore when a molecule of carbon dioxide absorbs heat energy, the molecule goes into an excited unstable state. The molecule becomes stable again by releasing the energy that is absorbed. Therefore much of this energy remains within the earths atmosphere, whilst the rest of the energy will go out into space. Carbon dioxide therefore allows the light energy from the sun to pass but does not allow all of the heat within the earths atmosphere to be released into to outer space, thus intensifying the greenhouse effect. Ultimately causing the temperature of the planet to rise. Illustration courtesy of www.dinosaurfact.net Pro-Active Response to the Problem In response to the Kyoto Protocols commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the UK must reduce its baseline greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% by 2008 2012 from a baseline target set in 1990. Furthermore, the draft Climate Change Bill commits the UK to reductions of C02 emissions of at least 26% by the year 2020 and also to a long-term goal of an 80% reduction by 2050 (Energy Saving Trust) Housing within the UK contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The UKs 21million homes account for around 27% of the overall carbon emissions released in to the atmosphere (Skandamoorthy, 2007) and with the current Governments promise to construct 3 million new homes by the year 2020, the need to address the carbon situation within the housing sector is of paramount importance (BBC News, 2007. New agency to drive home building) Traditionally the construction industry has had little regard for the environment, which makes common ground for producing buildings without energy efficiency in mind. It is only until recent times has the consumption of energy been an important agenda in the house building industry, as advancements in energy efficiency playing an important role in the design of buildings built today, due partly to the crucial role being played by the stringent building regulations; pushing the boundaries further to make buildings more energy efficient. In response to the current situation with regards to reducing carbon emissions within the housing industry the government introduced in 2006 the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) scheme (a successor to the Eco Homes rating scheme). At the moment the code is a voluntary standard for energy efficiency and sustainability, applying to newly built homes in the private sector however, it is mandatory where public sector (Homes and Communities Agency) funding is involved. The code aims to deliver a standard guideline for house builders in the UK and addresses key areas of sustainability such as water use and C02 emissions in house building and use. A rating system has been developed within in the code, which measures the ability of the buildings efficiency in terms of energy use. The codes rating system ranges between levels 1 and 6. Level 6 being the highest level of efficiency and is the level that is most appropriate and applicable to the current study, which is the attainment of zero car bon status (Code for Sustainable Homes Technical Guide, 2007) The Government has indicated that the code will become the single national standard for the design and construction of sustainable homes and is set to become a vehicle for the development of sustainable home building practice in the UK (Code for Sustainable Homes, 1997) The subject of interest is whether the government and the building profession can implement and administer an effective strategy that will allow all new homes to achieve the highly challenging standards of incorporating level 6 rating to dwellings across the board to allow zero carbon status of newly built homes by 2016. Why is there a lack of zero carbon dwellings in the United Kingdom? The problem that presents itself is that the conscious world has accepted that the global warming phenomenon is a serious threat to the planet. Up until recent times carbon emissions and the negative effects being imposed by them upon the environment were not clearly understood, or even thought about in many respects and therefore not a major issue in the housing industry. Recent studies have reported that homes contribute around 27% of total UK carbon emissions. For this reason the housing industry may not have grasped the technologies sufficiently to mass-produce zero carbon homes. Because demand may have been low for zero carbon dwellings it may indicate that there may be a premium cost to build zero carbon homes and therefore not in the best interests of financiers and developers, who may not receive healthy returns on assuming risk for building such assets. Lack of enforceability may be another issue why such dwellings have not been mass-produced. Maybe the supply of materials t o produce such assets may be lacking in availability; again this may be as a consequence of low demand, which may also contribute towards extra cost. It is not clear that any of these scenarios are either singularly or collectively responsible for the slow progress in developing zero carbon homes. Therefore the current study will examine the various drivers and barriers that influence the development of zero carbon developments such as cost, legislation, market demand, available technology and the supply chain. The identification of these factors will provide a basic analysis to determine whether the policy of achieving the zero carbon homes policy by 2016 across the board is actually feasible. Section 2 Review of zero carbon homes legislation Few green policies have had quite such an impact on a sector as the zero carbon homes policy has had in housing says John Alker, Head of Advocacy at the UK Green Building Council. In December 2006 the government introduced a commitment plan which formulated a requirement that all new homes are to be zero carbon from the year 2016 onwards. The initial proposal was formally communicated via the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) technical guide, which is based on and replaces the Ecohomes national standard for sustainable design and construction for new housing in the UK in April 2007. The code stated that a building would emit zero net carbon emissions from heating, hot water, lighting, appliance use and cooking. All CO2 reductions had to be achieved by local off-site means connected to the building by a direct physical connection. However, more recently the government defined a zero carbon dwelling as one which generates 70% of the energy it uses for heating, ventilation and lighting f rom on-site renewable energy (The Energy Saving Trust). Meeting the criteria would enable the home to be rated as a code level 6 home; the highest star rating achievable in terms of the Code, thus certificating the home as a zero carbon dwelling. The acquisition of a code level 6 certificate will allow first hand purchasers of zero carbon homes up to the value of 500,000 exemption from paying stamp duty land tax (SDLT). Homes above the 500,000 threshold will enjoy a 15,000 reduction towards the stamp duty bill (Section 58b, 2007 Finance Bill) It should be noted that the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) is currently UK legislation and its implementation is optional to use apart from developments funded by the government (BRE, EcoHomes, 2007). The government has indicated that home builders are encouraged to follow the guidelines of the Code now as adherence to the Code will become mandatory in the future for all new house building (Code for Sustainable Homes, 2006) The government has also provided an incentive for the installation of energy saving materials and micro-generation apparatus by reducing the VAT to 5%. This VAT decrease only applies to the UK however, the European Commission is committed to bringing forward proposals for a change to the Principal VAT Directive to allow an EU-wide reduction in VAT for green products, particularly those aimed at improving energy efficiency in buildings (HM Treasury, 2008) The UK government aims to reach their stated goal of 80% carbon dioxide reduction in the UK by 2050 through implementing progressive tightening of the building regulations. The tightening of the regulations is to be maintained in three phases in 2010, 2013 and 2016 (Building Regulations Energy efficiency requirements for new dwellings, 2007). The graph on the previous page shows the target reductions for each phase. These target reductions equate to the energy performance standards in the governments vehicle for reducing CO2 in housing; the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) Levels 3, 4, and 6 respectively; highlighting the governments progressive strategy to achieving carbon zero homes by 2016. Source: (Building Regulations Energy efficiency requirements for new dwellings, 2007). The primary method of measurement of energy efficiency for the Building Regulations is the dwelling Carbon Dioxide Emissions Rate (DER), which is an estimate of CO2 per metre squared of floor area. Currently (2010) the improvement in the DER is said to be 25% compared to the 2006 level. An improvement of 44% is required in 2013 and ultimately a 100% improvement which is incidentally zero carbon for all new homes built in 2016. An analysis of the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) The code seeks to make improvements in energy efficiency and water usage upon those required by the Building Regulations Part L 2006. The code will compliment the system of energy performance certificates that was introduced in 2007 by the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD). At present the Code is voluntary, however house builders are encouraged to utilise the Code as a guideline for house building practice, as the government states that the code will be mandatory in the future. Energy efficiency is measured at every level of the code by assessing nine individual design categories, with higher level of sustainability performance achieving a high code rating. The Code measures the following design categories: * Energy/C02 * Health Well being * Surface water run off * Pollution * Materials * Ecology * Water * Management * Waste The code implements a procedure which mirrors the BREs EcoHomes system in its method of assessment, which relies on trained and accredited independent assessors to inspect the homes. Design stage assessments are conducted by the assessors who on completion of the assessment recommend a sustainable code rating for the home being assessed and will issues an interim certificate. On completion of the development a post completion assessment is carried out by the inspector, who will on completion of the final checks issue a final code certificate which states the level achieved and therefore be given a CSH code rating. A home meeting any level of the Code will have to meet minimum standards for certain items depending on what Level is desired. For Level 6 this means: The home will have to be completely zero carbon (i.e. zero net emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from all energy use in the home). This could be achieved by: Improving the thermal efficiency of the walls, windows, and roof as far as is practically possible (by using more insulation or better glass for example); Reducing air permeability to the minimum consistent with health requirements (a certain amount of air ventilation is needed in a home for health reasons); Installing a high efficiency condensing boiler, or being on a district heating system; Carefully designing the fabric of the home to reduce thermal bridging (thermal bridging allows heat to easily escape between the inner walls and the outer walls of a home); Using low and zero carbon technologies such as solar thermal panels, biomass boilers, wind turbines, and combined heat and power systems (CHP). It would mean for example that energy taken from the national grid would have to be replaced by low or zero carbon generated energy, so that over a year the net emissions were zero. The home will have to be designed to use no more than about 80 litres of water per person per day. This could be achieved by fitting such items as: 6/4 Dual Flush WC; Flow Reducing/Aerating taps throughout; 6-9 litres per minute shower (note that an average electric shower is about 6/7 litres per minute); a smaller, shaped bath still long enough to lie down in, but less water required to fill it to a level consistent with personal comfort; 18ltr maximum volume dishwasher; 60ltr maximum volume washing machine. To achieve the standard would also mean that about 30% of the water requirement of the home was provided from non-potable sources such as rainwater harvesting systems or grey water recycling systems. Other minimum requirements are required for: Surface water management this may mean the provision of soakaways and areas of porous paving; Materials this means a minimum number of materials meeting at least a D grade in the Building Research Establishments Green Guide (the scale goes from A+ to E); Waste management this means having a site waste management plan in place during the homes construction, and adequate space for waste storage during its use. But to get to Level 6 you need a further 64.9 points. So the builder/developer must do many other things to obtain the other points. In fact they will need to do 90% of everything in the Code to achieve Level 6, including: Energy efficient appliances, and lighting; Supplying accessible water butts; Reducing surface water run-off as much as possible; Using highly environmentally friendly materials; Minimising construction waste; Maximum, accessible provision for recycling; Improved daylighting, sound insulation and security; Building to the Lifetime Homes standard; Assessing and minimising the ecological impact of the construction of the home Source of information: Code for Sustainable Homes A step change in home building practice guide (2006) Section 3 Cost implications of constructing zero carbon homes During the last ten years house prices have continually increased due to the rising population and a slow response to the demand in terms of house building says Kate Barker in her 2004 survey on housing supply (Barker, K. 2004) See figures 1 and 4 below. It was the Barker report commissioned by Prime Minister Gordon Brown which gave recognition to the home building industry to investigate into improving the level of housing supply in the UK. The report concluded that the UK had a serious shortage of homes and was in much need of around 120,000 homes per year built by private house builders. The figures are in addition to the 150,000 homes which are currently being constructed per year by the house builders. The Barker report engaged the government to set an objective to increase the supply of houses being built in England of at least 200,000 per year by the year 2020. The housing market in the UK is considered by the UK government as an important arena in contributing towards regulating the nations economy. Putting this into perspective it is ironic that the Labour government since coming into power has changed housing ministers nine times in the last thirteen years. During the first year in office by the Labour government, it has seen a housing crisis which has seen a 190% increase in house prices with a house price to earnings ratio increase from 3.1 to 5.8. What this means is that whilst house prices have climbed dramatically, average salaries have not increased in proportion to the rising cost of house purchasing. The solution to controlling current house prices is to build more homes, however in 2009 only 118,000 new homes were constructed, which is less than half the annual amount required if the governments target of an additional 3 million homes are to be constructed by the year 2020 (Alexander, 2010). How does this piece of information re late to the cost of constructing zero carbon homes? Quite simply; the government has introduced a policy which aims to build an additional 3 million homes by the year 2020. The government is also pressing with the policy which aims to see all new homes constructed by the year 2016 to be zero carbon. The problem that presents itself is that the cost of building zero carbon homes includes a premium cost for building and subsequently purchasing such a property. If in the year 2009 only 118,000 homes were built, when quite clearly the governments target is at least 200,000 per year to be in a position to meet the 3 million new homes target by 2020 and the cost of housing is already quite high, then how does Gordon Brown intend on maintaining the road map for two extraordinary targets which clash quite apparently. Last years figures prove that house building was at an all time low since 1946. These figures indicate that Gordon Browns government may have overlooked the situation and set a target which is perhaps extremely challenging if taking account of the current economic position of the UK economy. The Cyril Sweett Consultation In 2006 Cyril Sweett construction and property consultants were approached by the English Partnerships and Housing Corporation to report on the implications of the move from the Ecohomes standard of Very good rating to the level 3 Code for Sustainable Homes. The research carried out by Cyril Sweett consultants reviewed six different types of houses which included four types which were constructed using traditional methods of construction and two with modern construction techniques. Cyril Sweett say that the findings of the research are not necessarily standard for all construction and consideration should given to project specific variables such as the area of construction, type of development, the supply chain etc; each having a variable effect on the cost of building in the stated methods of construction. Whilst the figures do not represent code level 6 developments, they do however give an indication of what the expected cost of building level 6 zero carbon homes may be if factore d. The study made consideration to a whole host of construction methods and technological solutions to improve the performance of the home. The sole purpose of the research was to assess which methods of construction were the most economically viable to achieve the various code levels of the CfSH. However four scenarios were given in the report for expediency which are as follows: Scenario 1 Initial energy efficiency measures followed by the use of solar thermal technology, then photovoltaic and biomass systems. Scenario 2 Initial energy efficiency measures initially followed by the use of small scale wind turbines and then biomass systems. Scenario 3 Development with shared energy services, such as combined heat and power (CHP). For this scenario costs per unit are averaged for different infrastructure options for a theoretical 200 unit development. Scenario 4 Achievement of Code level 3 without recourse to renewable energies through the use of a whole house mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery and by assuming the use of proprietary construction details. The findings of the study found that projects which allowed for wind energy or site wide CHP technologies had scope for achieving the lowest costs. Again, it is stressed that projects are site specific therefore areas with low wind speeds may not be able to achieve satisfactory wind speeds to justify using wind energy technologies. The following tabulated data highlights the additional cost of achieving the code level 3 over the Ecohomes Very Good standard. Traditional detached house Traditional terraced house Low rise apartment High rise apartment Scenario 1 4,525 (4.8%) 4,373(5.7%) 2,579 (3.2%) 4,900 (3.8%) Scenario 2 2,852 (2.9%) 2,786 (3.5%) 1,498 (1.9%) 2,699 (2.0%) Scenario 3 3,131 (3.2%) 3,165 (4.1%) 946 (1.2%) 643 (0.4%) Scenario 4 5,090 (5.4%) 4,748 (6.2%) 3,942 (3.0%) The baseline cost for the abovementioned homes is 92,107 for a 116m detached home and 75,230 for a 101m end of terrace home, as specified or compliant with the 2006 building Regulations. It is an interesting observation that the implementation of Scenario 4 to achieve a code level 3 rating costs 5,090 for a detached house and 4,748 for a terraced house; an increase in cost of 5.4% and 6.2% respectively. Whats interesting about these figures is that Scenario 4 does not implement any renewable energy solutions such as photovoltaic cell technology but does make use of mechanical ventilation with heat recovery systems. Scenario 4 does in many respects mirror the PassivHaus dwelling or Scandinavian homes method of building. Scenario 4 combined with advanced micro generation technologies could achieve level 6 zero carbon status but to enable this industry would need to invest further in research and development of enhancing the micro generation technologies, however the cost will be greatly increased. As with anything that is new there is a premium cost to be paid. But as more efforts are made and competition increases due to demand the cost of such technologies should dec rease in time. The costing data provided in the Cyril Sweett report (2007) went further to report on the cost of achieving a level 5 rating of the Code for Sustainable Homes (CfSH), which is incidentally the highest level of code attainment data provided in the report. The following cost comparison data only makes reference to detached dwellings as the costing data for terraced houses are not too dissimilar to the detached houses. Scenario 1 The table shown above shows the cost of achieving a code level 5 rating of the CfSH using scenario 1, which to reiterate includes the use of solar thermal technology with photovoltaic and biomass systems. The cost attached to upgrading to level 5 costs an additional 20,270, as shown in the table. Therefore an 18% increase above the baseline cost of building a detached home with a 116m area to the 2006 building regulatory standard, which totals 111,476. Scenario 2 Utilising Scenario 2, a 116m Home built with small scale wind turbine and biomass technology will achieve a CfSH level 5 rating at a cost of 14,206 above the baseline cost. A 14% increase totalling 106,146 Scenario 3 Utilising Scenario 3, a 116m Home built using site wide CHP technology will achieve a CfSH level 4 rating at a cost of 2,622 above the baseline cost. A 3% increase totalling 93,828 Scenario 4 Utilising Scenario 4, a 116m Home built with improved air tightening and mechanical ventilation will achieve a CHS level 3 rating at a cost of 4,481 above the baseline cost. A 5% increase totalling 95,687 The cumulative graph shown above shows the cost of achieving each level of the Code for Sustainable Homes (CfSH) up to level 5, in comparison to each scenario detailed on the previous pages. The interesting thing about the comparative cost data provided by Cyril Sweett consultants is that to achieve level 5 of the code using scenario one costs 36,070, which is an increase above the baseline cost of 28.6%. Obtaining a code level 5 rating using scenario two is achieved by allowing for an increase in cost above the baseline of 20,746 which is a 22.7% increase. These figures provide an indication of what the likelihood cost for building code level 6 zero carbon homes are going be. Therefore it is estimated that for a similar type of dwelling the cost will be in excess of 30% above the 2006 Building Regulations baseline cost. A 30% increase in cost is quite substantial considering a home built to the prescribed building standards would cost approximately 92,107, thus around a 40,000 increase to implement code level 6 to the dwelling is a substantial amount and therefore cost is going to be a major factor in determining the success or failure of achieving the zero carbon homes by 2016 target. Clearly the figures shown in this report show that the cost of producing zero carbon homes across the board is going to be a major obstacle if drastic changes and new solutions to reduce the cost of zero carbon technologies do not surface within the next few years leading up to the year 2016. The situation appears to be quite discomforting as affordability is going to negate the possibility of achieving not just the 2016 target but may also interfere with the 2020 target of building an additional three million new homes in the United Kingdom as less demand due to affordability will result in less homes being built and therefore cause a stalemate situation if the government alongside industry does not take steps to resolve the situation fast. Reductions in cost for bulk purchasing As stated earlier in the report cost reductions can be made through advances in technology and through competition as demand for zero carbon homes increases. Whilst the cost of achieving zero carbon is quite high at the moment, cost will gradually subside. The Cyril Sweett consultancy further reported that the purchase of materials and technology in bulk order will reduce the cost of producing zero carbon homes. Cyril Sweett representatives approached a number of suppliers of water and sustainable technologies. It was found that for large scale procurement i.e. 5000 units plus reductions in cost were achieved for the following technologies. Sustainable technologies Savings in cost (%) Grey water recycling solutions 10 20 Surface water collection 20 30 Biomass Boilers 10 20 CHP 20 Solar thermal technologies 20 30 Ground Source Heat extraction pumps 30 60 (Cyril Sweett, 2007) Section 4 Methodology This chapter focuses on the methodology used in the production of the current research paper and will highlight the various stages of the research method. The purpose of the methodology is to provide the reader with an insight into what is expected in the report and how the research is to be conducted. The current study focuses on the UK governments policy of all homes to be Zero Carbon by the year 2016 and investigates into the feasibility of the policy and further considers the impediments preventing the policy to materialise. The study also aims to identify the key drivers and barriers of achieving zero carbon homes by 2016 across the board. The study will explore key areas in the subject matter such as the supply chain of the mass production of zero carbon homes, the economic limitations to mass-produce and the legislative or otherwise impediments that may hinder the governments aim in driving forward the concept of zero carbon homes by the year 2016. The study will endeavour to surface any requirements that are needed by the government and/or the industry to enable such a vision to become a reality, but also to identify whether the time frame for such a policy is tenable or too ambitious a target. The research material used to undertake the study will predominately be that of government information and research documents, current journals relating to the subject matter, case study examples, statistical data, the Internet and the general media. Quantitative research information was obtained via a semi-structured questionnaire that was distributed to potential respondents by email. The questionnaire was targeted at named individuals within the organisations to whom it was felt were in a suitable position to answer the topical question: Are zero carbon homes achievable by 2016. The questionnaire was targeted at some of the UKs leading house building companies as it was understood that these companies would have the necessary resources in place to be in a position to respond better and faster to changing government legislation and enforcement compared to smaller house builders. It was also considered that these companies would take a pro-active approach towards keeping in synchron isation with industry demand and technological developments in zero carbon as and when they occur, to be able to respond to the changing culture of the house building industry. The questionnaire was structured to respond to questions relating primarily to the Code for Sustainable Homes (CfSH), as the code is the vehicle for achieving zero carbon homes. The response required was to understand the opinions of the house builders to how they interpret the code, its workability and to what extent they are engaged in building zero carbon homes in parallel with the guidelines of the code. Questions were further directed towards determining the respondents views on the timeframe of the 2016 roadmap and whether the timeframe for achieving zero carbon homes across the board is feasible and if so to what cost. The following statement made by Derek Swetnam was considered when distributing the questionnaire (2005 p.27) remember that a low rate of return may have research significance and has to be reported. You will be fortunate if you reach a 70% rate of response on personally collected questionnaires, and postal ones may be as little as 10%. However due to time and budgetary constraints email correspondence was the only feasible option available to the author thus the preferred method of data compilation and primary research strategy. The structure of the Questionnaire The questionnaire was targeted at named individuals within house building companies who were considered by the author to be in an ideal position to answer the questions to the feasibility of the 2016 policy. The questionnaire was formulated using a systematic approach which was facilitated by a detailed review of the literature in the subject through gaining an understanding of the specific details of the zero carbon topic. The first section of the questionnaire asked questions about the companys level of house production and turnover; past, present and future projections. The results of which gave the author an understanding as to the level of activity the company was engaged in producing houses. Determining the level of production would also provide the author with some understanding as to the past, present and future culture of house building practice in the UK. Understanding the culture of house building trends gives a representation as to the future of house building which would facilitate zero carbon housing. Questions were further directed at the types of standard the company was using as a guideline to build homes. The information provided by the respondents gave the author an indication as to the companys commitment in developing low and zero carbon homes and whether the company had working knowledge of the Code for Sustainable Homes, which is the vehicle for addressing the 2016 target. Respondents that had a good working knowledge of the Code would give the author confidence in the responses received as it would mean that those companies would be heavily involved in building homes using the CfSH standard and were better informed about zero carbon housing; clarifying the limitations of the working relationship of the Code and its future prospects of maintaining the 2016 roadmap. The last section of the questionnaire asked respondents to comment on their views as to the feasibility of the 2016 target. Having working knowledge of house building practice would put house builders in an ideal position to give an educated opinion on whether implementing the zero carbon strategy to homes built across the board will be successful in its aim by 2016. Dissertation Structure Section 1 Section 1 includes an abstract and an introduction, which contains a brief description of the problem that is to be analysed in the research. Section 2 At this stage the focus is to determine the role of government legislation and its effects upon achieving the 2016 zero carbon target. The chapter includes research details of the legislative requirements of achieving the target and to identify whether the government is doing enough in terms of legislative enforcement to maintain the roadmap for achieving the all new homes to be zero carbon by 2016 target. Specific Areas of research will include: * The definition of zero carbon homes * Environmental legislation * Government Policy relating to zero carbon homes * Planning Policies relating to zero carbon homes * A review of the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) Section 3 Section 3 is a review of the financial implications of procuring zero carbon homes and to determine the cost of building a zero carbon home in accordance with the Code for Sustainable Homes (CfSH). The chapter also considers whether any fiscal incentives are available for building zero carbon homes; to determine what extent those incentives are disbursed and also identify the recipients targeted for receiving financial incentives. The study will endeavour to reveal whether the financial incentives offered by the treasury are sufficient to motivate the recipients who choose to invest in zero carbon housing, whether it is materials suppliers, manufacturers, builders and/or end users. Section 4 At this stage of the report a methodology is provided which states how the research is to be conducted and the means with which the question is to be answered. Section 5 This section includes an ethics statement which highlights the ethical responsibilities to which the current research was conducted. Section 6 This section of the report presents the results of the findings of the research carried out in terms of the responses received by the respondents of the questionnaire. An analysis of the findings is presented in this section and it is the findings of the responses of the various house builders to whom the questionnaire was targeted to supplement the literary of the works of previous authors. The data will be used to compare, contrast and seek correlation of the results of the questionnaire to previous works of authors, which will provide sufficient information to answer the topical question. Section 5- Ethics Statement The research methods employed by the author of the current research paper shall ensure that all activities involving third party participation shall be consistent with utmost respect for human dignity, the preservation of integrity, principle of inclusion and justice, and the principle of minimal harm. The conduct in which the research must be conducted shall be undertaken in an ethical and socially responsible manner. The conduct of the researcher shall be consistent throughout the entire research exercise. This includes the handling of research data and the treatment of any persons or organisations who have chosen to participate in the research by disclosing information pertaining to the subject being scrutinised. Subjects who agree to participate in the research shall be informed from the outset that participation is strictly voluntary and therefore all participants shall be given the opportunity to decline the invitation to participate in the research. All participants that take part in the research must possess adequate reasoning capabilities to provide relevant answers to the questions being asked. Participants should be made aware that any information that is disclosed for the purposes of the research shall be handled with the utmost care in maintaining anonymity of the persons, organisations or otherwise that take part in the research. Participants should also understand that any involvement towards the research shall not endure any adverse effects upon themselves or any third parties the participant is making reference to. The participants of the research shall be provided with background information of the topic that is being investigated prior to any involvement, and will be made aware of the reasons why the individual has been considered as an appropriate source of information. In most cases the participants invited to contribute towards the research will be construction individuals who are concerned directly or otherwise with the subject being investigated. The research data acquired from the investigation shall be used to determine the viability of achieving the UKs 2016 zero carbon homes target. The research information that is being sought will include financial data in constructing homes in compliance with the Code for Sustainable Homes which Is the guideline for building homes to the various levels of the code that include building zero carbon homes. Other information that is being sought from the participants is the impediments and drivers of achieving the 2016 target. Therefore the participants need to be adequately experienced professionals in the home building industry to be in a position to make a significant contribution to the study. The primary method of research will be to distribute a semi-structured questionnaire which will ask questions in an open and closed ended fashion. The chosen method of questioning was to allow respondents to make additional contributions to the questions being answered and therefore allowing the respondent to make personal opinions based on their experience. All data will be handled in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and therefore all information from third parties shall observe privacy and express use of the information for its intended use. The collected information shall be kept safe and stored securely to maintain the rights of individuals involved. All corresponding data that is stored on computer storage facilities, paper copies or otherwise shall be deleted and disposed of in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Section 6 Analysis of the Research Data The aim of the research was to answer the question: Are zero carbon homes achievable by 2016. The current section provides an analysis of the responses received from the various persons working for the major house building companies in the UK who are actively engaged in house building. It was felt that house builders were in an ideal position to answer questions on the viability of mass zero carbon housing as the onus was on house building companies to respond to the call for making a significant contribution towards understanding and implementing strategies to address the carbon situation in terms of housing supply, as it is the house building companies who need to respond to changing trends in house building practices if those companies are going to compete in the house building market. Therefore house building companies are regarded as the most learned contingency in the construction industry to answer questions relating to zero carbon housing, as any changes to legislation, marke t responses, supply chain requirements and trends in house building directly affect the house building companies. Research questionnaires were distributed via email to fifty house building companies in the UK. A total of 18 completed forms were received from the 50 potential respondents, giving a 36% response rate. The returned responses received were from 4 Managing Directors, 9 General Managers and 5 Supervisors. All questionnaires received were usable. The pie chart shown below gives an idea of the magnitude of turnover of each responding company and therefore the scope of building works undertake by those respondents. These figures are important to the research as they give an indication to the amount of house building works undertaken by the responding companies and therefore credibility in answering the questions to the survey. Of the 18 companies who responded to the survey 22% of the respondents had an annual turnover up to 99.99m, 33% of the respondents had an annual turnover ranging between 100-250m. The survey showed that 39% of the respondents and therefore the highest number of respondents in terms of turnover category had an annual turnover range between 250m-500m, whilst only 6% of respondents stated that their turnover was in excess of 500m. The opening question relating to the zero carbon 2016 target was to ask respondents on their opinion on the demand for housebuilding in the UK. The question asked the respondents: Leading up to 2016, do you think that the amount of homes constructed in the UK will increase or decrease. The respondents were given the opportunity to comment on the reason/s for their response. The general consensus among the responding House Builders was that housebuilding should increase leading up to 2016, however they also commented that the main challenges that need to be overcome were in statutory planning and the cost of developing homes to the various levels of the code for sustainable homes. The response to the question correlates significantly to the data produced in the Cyril Sweett analysis, outlined in the earlier sections of the current report which provides information that suggests that house building costs are significantly higher compared to the baseline cost of developing houses. However responding views of the housebuilders conflict with the Barker report outlined on page 10 of this report, which suggests that house building has been slow in recent times and this trend may continue in to the near future. The respondents were then asked to what standards of house building the company that they represented were building to. The respondents were given a list of the various standards of home building practice in the UK, which were: Code for Sustainable Homes BRE Ecohomes * Current Building Regulations Other Asking the question about which standard the companies were building to was to understand trends in house building practice and to assess to what extent these companies were committed towards building zero carbon homes. The responses would also provide a broad understanding of the culture of house building practice and give an indication as to how well informed the general house building population was in terms of the 2016 target. The response would therefore provide an understanding as to how engaged the industry was in responding to the 2016 target. The results of the survey showed that 85% of the responses received indicated that they (house builders) were actively engaged in building homes using the Code for Sustainable Homes alongside other building standards. Most respondents also commented that they had carried out various design exercises and costed the scenarios and therefore were aware of the cost of building homes to the various levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The high number of respondents stating that they were using the CfSH as a guideline for house building proved to be a positive response to addressing the zero carbon homes challenge as it meant that the high number of companies should be aware of the various costs, technologies and viability of mass building zero carbon homes. The respondents were further asked if they knew of any incentives for building zero carbon homes and to state whom those recipients were who could receive the incentives and the adequacy of those incentives. The responses that were received were quite muted as none of the respondents were aware of any incentives for building level 6 zero carbon homes. One respondent went as far as stating that: There are no incentives; the industry is being forced down this route by legislation. The government gets all the kudos and the development industry carries all the cost and risk. Whilst respondents did not know of any incentives that were available for producing zero carbon homes, secondary research showed that VAT had been subsidised to 5% for the purchase of green materials and services. The government had also allowed an exemption from paying stamp duty land tax for homes which acquired a zero carbon level 6 certification of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Zero carbon homes which incurred building costs in excess of 500,000 received a reduction in stamp duty fees of 15,000. The next question that asked the respondents was to comment on whether Local Planning Authorities were in the best position to enforce developers to build homes to the CfSH standard. The general view of the respondents was that the LPAs do not always fully understand what they are looking for and therefore can be a major hindrance to the development process as delays are inevitable due to the lack of initial understanding of the requirements of the CfSH. One respondent commented that; the difficulty with LPAs is that they may ask for additional standards on top of the Code for Sustainable Homes, which ultimately puts the credibility of the CfSH in to dispute as the various standards of the code are not fully understood and therefore there is not always a common understanding between the developers and the LPAs. The respondents also commented that the most influential driver for building to the CfSH is that if central government make the 2016 zero carbon homes policy in to government legislation, which would make home building unlawful if the development did not adhere to the criteria of the CfSH. This would then provide clarity to the situation as both LPAs and developers would take steps to ensure that compliance to the requirements of the legislation is maintained. The final section of the questionnaire asked respondents to comment on their opinion as to whether the 2016 target was achievable. Surprisingly the responses received were varied. Respondents generally commented on the lack of clarity as to what a truly zero carbon home was, therefore not entirely sure on what actually constituted a truly zero carbon home. They (the respondents) stated that a universal definition of a zero carbon home was one of the main barriers in achieving zero carbon homes across the board by 2016. Most respondent stated that they were not building level 6 zero carbon homes at the moment because of the lack of clarity. One respondent commented that their company was in the process of carrying out research studies in the subject and had been in consultation with the government to clarify the situation. The general consensus of the pessimistic respondents was that the zero carbon homes policy deadline was too ambitious and did not take into consideration the econom ic implications of mass building zero carbon homes. One respondent commented that from their in-house market research consumers showed concerns towards a number of issues regarding zero carbon homes and that these issues would ultimately impact upon the sales of zero carbon homes. The issues the respondent stated were: 1- Consumers were not prepared to pay the extra cost of zero carbon homes as the carbon issue was not one of their main criteria when considering the purchase of a home. 2- The overall savings in energy were not sufficient to pay an initial premium for zero carbon technology. 3- Consumers felt that they were sceptical about the longevity of the zero carbon technologies incorporated into the home and stated that replacement and maintenance in the case of malfunction could be expensive to replace. 4- Consumers did not like the fact that water consumption would be capped in CfSHs level 6 homes. Another respondent stated that the fact that the 2016 issues was government policy and not legislation was an indication that the government is not entirely committed towards achieving the 2016 target for fears of revolt by the electorate and damning consequences to the position of the current government in its reputation for making unreasonable demands. The respondent went further and stated that the current government had set a policy which was not possible in such a short space of time and that the target for constructing zero carbon homes should be put forward to a later date to give the industry sufficient time to sufficiently grasp the zero carbon homes challenge. Respondents that were optimistic that the 2016 target was achievable stated that the following areas of the debate should be addressed: 1- The government needs to convert the zero carbon homes policy into legislation to enforce house builders to build houses to the CfSHs level 6 standards 2- Greater awareness strategies need to be implementing in marketing to convince potential purchasers of zero carbon homes; that the investment that they are making in purchasing a zero carbon home is a wise investment 3- The supply chain which produces green products and services must make an effort to reduce the cost of production. 4- Government needs to make available significant financial incentives across the board to reduce the cost of delivering zero carbon homes. One respondent commented that delivering zero carbon homes across the board is achievable if the construction industry makes significant changes to the culture of house building in the UK. The respondent was referring to Scandinavian countries that are committed towards addressing the climate change problem and are already building low carbon homes at a cost that is affordable. Conclusion and Recommendation The aim of the current research paper was to find out whether the 2016 zero carbon homes target was achievable. The process used to answer the topical question was to initially carry out a literature review of the works of previous authors to gain a background understanding of the subject. The review was used to guide and structure the research undertaken. The primary research method used to answer the topical question was by utilising a quantitative research method, which was to distribute a semi-structured questionnaire among professionals with varying levels of responsibility employed by house building companies. The questionnaire included open and closed ended questions. The use of a semi-structured questionnaire was to allow respondents to provide as much information as possible about the specific issues relating to the zero carbon homes discussion, as the author felt that a structured questionnaire with solely closed ended questioning would be too rigid and may miss the opportu nity to acquire additional information which may further facilitate the research. The respondents were also given the opportunity to make personal opinions based on their own experiences relating to the zero carbon homes agenda. From the various sources of research information obtained to produce the current research paper a number of conclusions can be drawn from the findings. Firstly cost has been found to be a major barrier in the production of building zero carbon homes with around a 30% increase on top of the baseline cost of building a home in accordance with the standard building regulations, which amounted to around an extra 40,000 in build costs. According to a respondent of the research questionnaire; in-house market research conducted by the company revealed that the consensus view among general house buyers was that they were not prepared to pay the additional cost of a zero carbon home as the carbon issue was not a significant factor in the criteria when considering buying a home and therefore the price tag attached to zero carbon homes was too high to persuade most home buyers to invest in a zero carbon dwelling. This information was crucial in providing direction to the research as cost was on e of the main issues that were identified in the literature review as being a potential barrier to achieving the 2016 target. Although the government had introduced the scheme of exemption and subsidisation of Stamp Duty Land Tax, the savings were not significant enough to persuade home buyers en masse to purchase a zero carbon home. Home buyers were also sceptical about the high cost of replacing micro-generation systems. The economic assessment of zero carbon homes suggests that whilst sustainable and micro-generation technologies are widely available, it is the current high cost of incorporating these technologies into the home which is going to be the single most important factor preventing the 2016 target to be achieved. The economic assessment of the financial implications of introducing the 2016 commitment also contradicts the Labour Governments goal of building an additional 20 million homes by the year 2020. In an earlier chapter of the dissertation, reference was made to the Barker report commissioned by Prime Minister Gordon Brown to report on the need to increase the supply of homes due to a desperate shortage of housing in the UK. 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